According to NGFA, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be holding an informational webinar on Thursday, Oct. 27, from 1-2:30 p.m. ET on the new Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods (LAAF) program, which establishes a laboratory accreditation program for the required testing of human and animal food in certain circumstances.
The LAAF final rule was published on Dec. 3, 2021, and is intended to improve the accuracy and reliability of food testing through the uniformity of standards and enhanced FDA oversight of participating laboratories.
Under the LAAF program, FDA will recognize accreditation bodies that will accredit laboratories to the standards established in the final rule.
The rule also requires owners and consignees of human and animal food to use an FDA-accredited laboratory for food testing under the following circumstances:
• To support removal of a food from an import alert through successful consecutive testing requirements;
• To support admission of an imported food detained at the border because it is or appears to be in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act;
• As required by existing FDA food safety regulations, when applied to address an identified or suspected food safety problem (i.e., certain tests of shell eggs, sprouts, and bottled drinking water);
• As required by a directed food laboratory order, a new procedure being implemented in this final rule that will allow FDA to require use of an FDA-accredited laboratory to address an identified or suspected food safety problem in certain, rare circumstances; and
• When conducted in connection with certain administrative processes, such as testing submitted in connection with a mandatory food recall order or an appeal of an administrative detention order.
During the webinar, FDA will provide an overview of the program and aspects of its implementation most relevant to accreditation bodies and laboratories that may be interested in participating.
To register for the webinar, visit the registration page.